Anthony Dodson: A Story of Resilience and Transformation
Emerging from the crucible of adversity, Anthony Dodson's narrative begins in Aiken, SC, where his grandmother played a pivotal role in guiding him away from the shadows cast by his parents' incarceration. Despite a turbulent youth, Dodson defied the odds, graduating at the remarkably young age of 16. Undeterred by challenges, Dodson's professional journey began with Verizon, where he quickly ascended the corporate ladder. His entrepreneurial spirit found expression in real estate, and his venture into credit repair marked the inception of his business career. The pursuit of a brighter future led him to Houston, TX, where tragedy struck once more, catalyzing his transformation into an advocate for change. Armed with an MBA and a passion for financial literacy, Dodson, in collaboration with his daughter, authored a groundbreaking 12-book series on the subject. His unorthodox approach resonated globally, propelling him into the international spotlight as a speaker, life coach, and change agent—all before the age of 30. Anthony Dodson transcends the conventional success narrative. He embodies resilience and offers inspiration to those striving to rise above challenges. Join him on a journey where adversity converges with triumph, and setbacks become stepping stones to greatness.

Anthony Dodson: A Story of Resilience and Transformation Emerging from the crucible of adversity, Anthony Dodson's narrative begins in Aiken, SC, where his grandmother played a pivotal role in guiding him away from the shadows cast by his parents' i... Show more

With a background in arts and literature and 20 years of experience in design, I have held roles such as editorial producer at Elle Brasil and trends forecaster at PeclersParis. After a career pivot, I am now a Senior Product Designer at Volkswagen Digital Solutions, having consulted for brands like VW, Audi, and Škoda.

With a background in arts and literature and 20 years of experience in design, I have held roles such as editorial producer at Elle Brasil and trends forecaster at PeclersParis. After a career pivot, I am now a Senior Product Designer at Volkswagen D... Show more

Seasoned technologist, infoSec researcher & automation hacker. Sassi has accumulated extensive experience in information security for ~30 years, in Red-Blue team assessments, conducting forensic investigations and more, including Fortune100 accounts. Advisory board member of Javelin Networks (acquired by Symantec in 2018). Worked for Microsoft ~8 years as Technology Group Manager and coded support tools for Windows Server. Sassi spoke at TED and TEDx events, and was awarded 4 Peace and friendship awards. Sassi holds a M.A in law, CISSP etc, and speaks regularly at various technology conferences worldwide. Volunteer for youth at risk, aviator & oriental rock guitarist.

Seasoned technologist, infoSec researcher & automation hacker. Sassi has accumulated extensive experience in information security for ~30 years, in Red-Blue team assessments, conducting forensic investigations and more, including Fortune100 accounts.... Show more

My career in technology is built on a foundation of distinguished Naval service, where I first developed technical skills and a deep commitment to excellence. After military service, I transitioned into Information Technology and Computer Systems, earning a Systems Analyst degree that equipped me with the analytical and problem-solving skills necessary for the field.

My technical expertise has grown to encompass various Systems Engineering skills. All involved in Designing, Developing, Testing, Deploying, Managing, Troubleshooting, and Upgrading. Here are the highlights:

Citrix Technologies
Enterprise Storage
Fiber Channel Infrastructures
Microsoft Technologies
Scripting Languages
VMware vSphere

My commitment to professional development and integrity is always a top priority. I aim to position myself and my clients with the best possible opportunities for satisfaction and success.

My career in technology is built on a foundation of distinguished Naval service, where I first developed technical skills and a deep commitment to excellence. After military service, I transitioned into Information Technology and Computer Systems, ea... Show more

JL Maxcy is a Texas-born creative. She studied art at the University of Texas in Arlington, where She earned her BFA in Painting. JL has shown her physical work throughout North America and Europe, and she has curated several NFT events. JL currently lives and works out of her studio in London.

JL Maxcy is a Texas-born creative. She studied art at the University of Texas in Arlington, where She earned her BFA in Painting. JL has shown her physical work throughout North America and Europe, and she has curated several NFT events. JL currently... Show more

Ali is a Senior Product Designer working remotely at TaxGPT (San Francisco, US) with 6 years of UX design experience working with product companies & startups in the US/Canada, the MENA region, and South East Asia. Ali's work focuses on building platforms that represent a rich understanding of the culture and niche they're built for, and Ali has striven to create value for millions of users in multiple domains. For example, Ali has worked on making real estate knowledge accessible to underprivileged Pakistani communities through Zameen.com, built a scalable ERP for auto-repair shops in Canada, localised for their jargon and technical language, and is building Nurture, a free-for-all platform for gamified environmental conservation that he will be used by NGOs & schools across Pakistan.

Ali is a Senior Product Designer working remotely at TaxGPT (San Francisco, US) with 6 years of UX design experience working with product companies & startups in the US/Canada, the MENA region, and South East Asia. Ali's work focuses on building plat... Show more

Psysci was created to represent an artist pfp for a pixel art album cover in 2002. Psysci has traversed the outskirts of technology and art for over 2 decades. Having performed live locally and abroad as well as streaming online, exhibited in art galleries for his graphic design and paintings, Psysci is a multimedia anomaly. Much of his efforts have been managing art projects and promoting others, which he continues to do today with his NFT communities and projects like the NIPD (Nifty Island Police Department), where psysci promotes fair play and ethics in the industry.

Psysci was created to represent an artist pfp for a pixel art album cover in 2002. Psysci has traversed the outskirts of technology and art for over 2 decades. Having performed live locally and abroad as well as streaming online, exhibited in art gal... Show more

Yves Richez est docteur en sémiologie, anthropologue et lexicologue (historien des mots) ; membre du Syndicat des Serious Game Designer et président de la maison d’édition Les Editions de l’Homo-Viator™, spécialisée dans le développement de dispositifs digitaux et gamifiés.

Yves Richez est docteur en sémiologie, anthropologue et lexicologue (historien des mots) ; membre du Syndicat des Serious Game Designer et président de la maison d’édition Les Editions de l’Homo-Viator™, spécialisée dans le développement de dispositi... Show more

I am CEO and co-founder of Expanso, the company behind the distributed compute platform Bacalhau. This means I spend most of my time helping humans to convince machines to be smarter. I am only moderately successful at this.

Previously, I led product management for Kubernetes on behalf of Google, launched Google Kubernetes Engine, and co-founded the Kubeflow project, and led Open Source Machine Learning Strategy at Azure. I have also worked at Protocol Labs, Amazon and Chef and co-founded three startups.

When not spending too much time in service of electrons, I can be found on a mountain (on skis), traveling the world (via restaurants) or participating in kid activities, of which there are a lot more than I remember than when I was that age.

I am CEO and co-founder of Expanso, the company behind the distributed compute platform Bacalhau. This means I spend most of my time helping humans to convince machines to be smarter. I am only moderately successful at this. Previously, I led prod... Show more

Blacksmith

Blacksmith Show more

Programmer with a passion for finding beautiful solutions to complex problems.

Programmer with a passion for finding beautiful solutions to complex problems. Show more

Stefan Göllner ist Innovationsmanager für Future Skills und KI beim Stifterband. Ein Schwerpunkt seiner Arbeit liegt seit 2020 auf Initiativen zur community-orientierten Weiterentwicklung des KI-Campus – die Lernplattform für Künstliche Intelligenz. Er entwickelt innovative Lernformate und engagiert sich für die partizipative Weiterentwicklung der Lernplattform und den Aufbau eines überregionalen Lern-Ökosystems in den KI-Campus HUBs. Seit 2025 koordiniert er die Taskforce »KI in der Hochschullehre« im Rahmen der Allianz für Future Skills.

Stefan Göllner ist Innovationsmanager für Future Skills und KI beim Stifterband. Ein Schwerpunkt seiner Arbeit liegt seit 2020 auf Initiativen zur community-orientierten Weiterentwicklung des KI-Campus – die Lernplattform für Künstliche Intelligenz. ... Show more

Lukas Hüttis has successfully managed IT projects for music distributors & led development teams for over 10 years. Since 2018, the musician also runs his own recording studio Strong-Minded Productions. Now he shares his knowledge and experience in the field of NFTs & Web3 as a coach for individuals, musicians and companies and assists them in their entry into Web3. In 2022, he and his co-host Chris Wieduwilt launched the first German podcast focusing on music NFTs and music in web3 called "Digital Punks".

Lukas Hüttis has successfully managed IT projects for music distributors & led development teams for over 10 years. Since 2018, the musician also runs his own recording studio Strong-Minded Productions. Now he shares his knowledge and experience in t... Show more

Chris Cañete Rodriguez Kelly is a literary critic whose work focuses on social relations of labor and aesthetic production. They received their Ph.D. in Literary Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2024 and specialize in twentieth-century Southeast Asian and Asian-diasporic literatures, with research and teaching interests in Philippine Tagalog and Anglophone literature and translation, Latinx studies, critical indigenous studies, as well as American and Asian American Studies. Their book project, “From Bundok to the Boondocks,” investigates how the Philippine Anglophone novel’s rise to prominence as a national literature with aspirations to globality depended upon the economic derogation of Tagalog literature. Chris’s work has appeared in Hispanic Issues, The Mekong Review, CNN Philippines, and ASAP/Journal, and is forthcoming in PMLA. From 2021-2023 they were affiliated with the University of the Philippines-Diliman and Ateneo de Manila University as a Fulbright-Hays fellow.

Chris Cañete Rodriguez Kelly is a literary critic whose work focuses on social relations of labor and aesthetic production. They received their Ph.D. in Literary Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2024 and specialize in twentieth-cen... Show more

Jukka Peinola works as a Product Owner at OP Financial Group. He started his career as a developer, but after some years, he was absorbed by the DevOps movement inside OP and as a result he built his career through DevOps Specialist role to Product Owner role. Due to his pedagogical background, Jukka found himself organizing DevOps-related trainings at OP Software Academy in addition to his daily work, which involves building enablers and capabilities and coaching OP software development teams to deliver software using public cloud.

Jukka is a former professional musician who made his career by teaching and playing double bass and electric bass. He is still teaching and performing as a bassist, but he also builds his skills on the trombone. Outside work and music, Jukka enjoys outdoor activities such as trail running, jogging, and hiking.

Jukka Peinola works as a Product Owner at OP Financial Group. He started his career as a developer, but after some years, he was absorbed by the DevOps movement inside OP and as a result he built his career through DevOps Specialist role to Product O... Show more

Jonathan Corley is the Director of Experience Strategy on Sitecore's Customer Transformation team, where he leads a team of innovative value engineers and digital strategists. He advises marketers at some of the world’s largest corporations, specializing in the optimization of digital experiences. Jonathan has a decade of experience as a marketing technology consultant with a sharp focus on strategy and configuration. He draws on his consulting experience at Sitecore, where he works closely with partners and top-tier customers to develop a shared vision for leveraging Sitecore’s digital experience software to create innovative digital experiences that accelerate business success. Jonathan lives with his family in Atlanta, Georgia and he is passionate about music and emerging technologies.

Jonathan Corley is the Director of Experience Strategy on Sitecore's Customer Transformation team, where he leads a team of innovative value engineers and digital strategists. He advises marketers at some of the world’s largest corporations, speciali... Show more

Barbara Mišković znana još i kao Sigrun Stormgard, Zmaj od Stormgarda ili jednostavno Kroničarka, autorica je serijala Kronike Zmaja od Stormgarda kao i knjige Priča o Roisin MacBride i raznih drugih fantasy i SF romana. Piše nadahnuta snovima, putovanjima, kroz ovostrane i onostrane Svjetove. Bavi se i ručnom izradom knjiga jer takve knjige sadrže najviše čarolije u sebi. Druži se s vilama, zmajevima i anđelima smrti, a dobrodošla je čak i u Everwindu što govori mnogo o njenoj reputaciji, iako, ako pitate arhmaga Sorena, o tome bi se dalo debatirati. Zato ga nemojte pitati. Jednostavno...nemojte.

Barbara Mišković znana još i kao Sigrun Stormgard, Zmaj od Stormgarda ili jednostavno Kroničarka, autorica je serijala Kronike Zmaja od Stormgarda kao i knjige Priča o Roisin MacBride i raznih drugih fantasy i SF romana. Piše nadahnuta snovima, putov... Show more

Lea is a frontend developer with accessibility in mind, based in Hamburg.

Lea is a frontend developer with accessibility in mind, based in Hamburg. Show more

Virkein Dhar brings visionary ideas to life through a blend of strategic acumen and creative execution. With a training in architecture and a practice in the arts, she navigates complex challenges across sectors - from cultural programming and immersive storytelling to policy design and brand strategy.

Over 15 years, Virkein has developed a distinctive approach to problem-solving through design, that transcends traditional boundaries to create intuitive experiences. Her approach combines deep cultural sensitivity with systems-level innovation.

Virkein is a creative entrepreneur, brand strategist and design futurist. She is the founding partner at Poppy Seed Lab, an innovation consultancy that cross-pollinates approaches from strategic design, immersive storytelling, business & research, to seed resilient and climate positive futures in Asia.

Whether serving businesses, creative agencies, or social impact organisations, her work consistently delivers results that connect, resonate, and catalyse meaningful change. Her long-term interests include the future of Indian craft traditions, equitable digital public goods, narrative-driven city building, and sustainable food systems. More about her at virkein.com.

Virkein Dhar brings visionary ideas to life through a blend of strategic acumen and creative execution. With a training in architecture and a practice in the arts, she navigates complex challenges across sectors - from cultural programming and immers... Show more

Mathew Kurien is a design professional with over 20 years of experience, currently leading as the Head of the Department of Communication Design at the MIT Institute of Design in Pune, India. His career began with a solid foundation in museum studies and applied arts, transitioning from a museum specialist to an influential educator and design leader.

Over the years, Mathew has managed and directed design teams at notable organizations like Dorling Kindersley, Ernst & Young, and Classmate at ITC, creating educational content and innovative design strategies. His work includes significant projects for major brands such as Apple Sales India and United Colors of Benetton, and impactful murals for the Ministry of Environment.

Mathew is deeply involved in mentoring, serving as a respected mentor on platforms like ADPList and a jury member for prestigious awards, including the A' Design Award and Competition, the Global Footwear Awards (GFA), and FICCI. These roles underscore his broad influence in the design community, evaluating works in various categories from academic to illustrated books.

Beyond his professional commitments, Mathew, a former avid biker and sneaker enthusiast, integrates his passions with his professional pursuits, enriching his creative and cultural perspective. His travel photography exhibitions in Delhi, Mumbai, and Chandigarh, resulting from his travels across India and Europe, showcase his skill and passion for capturing diverse cultures and landscapes.

Mathew has been recognised with the CII Design Excellence Award for his book "Style of India," highlighting his expertise in cultural aesthetics and storytelling. He advocates for empathetic and intuitive design, promoting designs that resonate on a human level and encourage sustainable practices. He believes in lifelong learning, continuously exploring new design and educational avenues. His educational background, including a Bachelor's in Applied Arts and a Master's in Museum Studies, complements his professional journey, making him a key figure in shaping the future of design education and practice.

Mathew Kurien is a design professional with over 20 years of experience, currently leading as the Head of the Department of Communication Design at the MIT Institute of Design in Pune, India. His career began with a solid foundation in museum studies... Show more

Si occupa di User Experience e User interface per prodotti digitali e di Brand Identity. Designer da oltre 20 anni, ha esposto in numerose mostre e festival internazionali con lo pseudonimo Jukuki. Docente di UX/UI design.
Adora le cose al contrario, il rosa e il Giappone.

Si occupa di User Experience e User interface per prodotti digitali e di Brand Identity. Designer da oltre 20 anni, ha esposto in numerose mostre e festival internazionali con lo pseudonimo Jukuki. Docente di UX/UI design. Adora le cose al contrario... Show more

Mihaela Marija Perković is a versatile Croatian author, editor, journalist, translator, and entrepreneur with a deep passion for storytelling and speculative fiction. She holds degrees in English and Italian language and literature as well as journalism from the University of Zagreb. Perković is the founder and CEO of *Savarakatini*, a boutique business specializing in technical writing, copywriting, public relations, and workshops for startups.

Her creative achievements include winning the Croatian national SF award SFERA in 2021 for her novella *Teuta’s Boat*, a historical fantasy set in 3rd century BC Croatia. An active contributor to science fiction fandoms, she has served as PR manager and Chair for SFeraKon, Croatia's largest sci-fi convention, and held leadership roles in international events like the Helsinki Worldcon 2017. She was also the European GUFF delegate to Australia in 2013 and has been recognized with the European Science Fiction Society Award for Best Promoter in 2015.

Mihaela Marija Perković is a versatile Croatian author, editor, journalist, translator, and entrepreneur with a deep passion for storytelling and speculative fiction. She holds degrees in English and Italian language and literature as well as journal... Show more

Karen is a dedicated, engaged, exploratory, and curious designer turned creative director.

Karen is a dedicated, engaged, exploratory, and curious designer turned creative director. Show more

Product designer, mentor, and Apple Certified Trainer with 6+ years of experience creating digital experiences across mobile, desktop, web, and spatial computing.

At the Apple Developer Academy in Naples, I collaborate with designers, researchers and engineers to mentor future developers, create content, and run workshops that make complex concepts fun and easy.

With the Create with Swift team, I designed talks, led workshops, and wrote about UX and spatial computing for Apple platforms. I’ve shared insights at Let’s Vision, designFAO, SwiftConf, and DESINA Festival.

Outside of work, I’m probably geeking out over new mangas, tweaking UI details, or sketching ideas with metal music in the background. I am always happy to chat about design, tech, or why Fullmetal Alchemist is peak storytelling.

Product designer, mentor, and Apple Certified Trainer with 6+ years of experience creating digital experiences across mobile, desktop, web, and spatial computing. At the Apple Developer Academy in Naples, I collaborate with designers, researchers ... Show more

Vinayak Varma is the author-illustrator of "The Sunshower Song," "Angry Akku," and "Jadav and the Tree-Place," among other picture books. He was the editor of the science fiction anthology "Strange Worlds! Strange Times!" and the founding editor and art director of the science magazine Brainwave. His artwork has appeared in magazines like Interzone, Soup, and Dark & Light, and in various books for Penguin, Harper Collins, Hachette, Duckbill, Scholastic, and Pratham Books, among others. He is a recipient of The Young World-Goodbooks Award, the Publishing Next Digital Book of the Year Award, and the Federation of Indian Publishers' First Prize for Excellence in Book Production, and has been shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize and the BSFA Award. In his independent design practice, Vinayak has helped create and shepherd several F&B and hospitality brands in Bangalore, among which, most recently, he was the Brand Custodian at Geist Brewing Company for its initial six years of operation. He is a visiting professor of Communication Design at the School of Design and Innovation, RV University, and has conducted workshops and lectures on visual arts and publishing at Azim Premji University, St. Joseph's University, and Srishti. Vinayak lives in Bangalore with his partner Yamini and their feline overlord Monkey. When not drawing or writing or plotting to start trade unions, Vinayak makes strange and dystopian synth-driven soundscapes for his solo music project Moral Panic Button.

Vinayak Varma is the author-illustrator of "The Sunshower Song," "Angry Akku," and "Jadav and the Tree-Place," among other picture books. He was the editor of the science fiction anthology "Strange Worlds! Strange Times!" and the founding editor and ... Show more

Warren Wilansky is the Founder and President of Plank, a digital agency dedicated to creating meaningful, accessible, and ethically designed web experiences. With over 25 years of experience, Warren has led projects for major organizations in arts & culture, higher education, and the nonprofit sector, helping them transform their digital presence. A champion of ethical web design, accessibility, and digital storytelling, Warren is passionate about using technology to foster inclusion, engagement, and long-term impact. As a Certified B Corp leader, he prioritizes mission-driven digital solutions that serve diverse audiences and align with organizational values.

Warren Wilansky is the Founder and President of Plank, a digital agency dedicated to creating meaningful, accessible, and ethically designed web experiences. With over 25 years of experience, Warren has led projects for major organizations in arts & ... Show more

Works as a Cloud Solution Architect. He is by training a professional developer started working since 2001. One of the early adopters of Azure. Have presented and worked since it's alpha days. Believes in OpenSource Learning.

Works as a Cloud Solution Architect. He is by training a professional developer started working since 2001. One of the early adopters of Azure. Have presented and worked since it's alpha days. Believes in OpenSource Learning. Show more

Hello World!
Soy Brenda Romero, actualmente Directora del área de QA en Artificial Nerds, en donde me dedico a automatizar procesos, realizar pruebas a su plataforma y a sus asistentes virtuales, además de realizar actividades relacionadas con el liderazgo del área.
Me apasiona la tecnología por lo que a menudo me gusta tomar cursos, certificarme, ir a conferencias de tecnología y de vez en cuando dar charlas sobre QA.

Hello World! Soy Brenda Romero, actualmente Directora del área de QA en Artificial Nerds, en donde me dedico a automatizar procesos, realizar pruebas a su plataforma y a sus asistentes virtuales, además de realizar actividades relacionadas con el li... Show more

Amy Trent is a long time fan of happily-ever-afters, cookies, and staying up late to write happily-ever-afters and eat cookies. She writes novels and short stories that explore identity, whimsy, and love through the lens of fairy tales and folklore. A woman, a mother, a reader, and a devoted stan of her cat, Amy can think of nothing better than an afternoon of connecting with others over books and creature comforts. Her brand is cozy; her point of view is a slow-burning ember of hope.

Amy has been publishing novels since 2021. She is a 2024 Praiseworthy Award finalist, a 2024 Once Upon a Pen Book Award nominee, and a #1 Amazon Best Seller. Her short stories have appeared or will soon appear in The Fairy Tale Magazine, Corvid Queen, and various anthologies. Amy currently lives in Colorado with her family, but the Trents have also called California and Mississippi home.

Amy Trent is a long time fan of happily-ever-afters, cookies, and staying up late to write happily-ever-afters and eat cookies. She writes novels and short stories that explore identity, whimsy, and love through the lens of fairy tales and folklore. ... Show more

Carol Berg, former software engineer, never expected to write eighteen novels. Nor did she expect to win the Colorado Book Award four times or hear that her books had been read on the slopes of Denali, in the war zone of Iraq, or underneath the Mediterranean. She certainly never thought to see her name alongside her literary heroes like JRR Tolkien as winner of the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award. Recent publications include her Collegia Magica trilogy, her Lighthouse Duet, and her Sanctuary Duet, re-released with splendiferous new artwork from Open Road Media, as well as Tor’s A Summoning of Demons under her nom de plume, Cate Glass.

Carol Berg, former software engineer, never expected to write eighteen novels. Nor did she expect to win the Colorado Book Award four times or hear that her books had been read on the slopes of Denali, in the war zone of Iraq, or underneath the Medit... Show more